After allowing 391 offensive yards and 39 points in a win at Boyd last week, the Indians’ defense held Aubrey to just 283 yards in a 27-22 win on Friday night at Chaparral Stadium.

Although the offense had a productive night with 348 yards, Sanger head coach Chuck Galbreath credited the team’s third consecutive victory to the defense.

“Our defense just rose to the challenge,” Galbreath said. “They gave up a lot of yards and a lot of points last week and we just challenged them to play like we know they’re capable of playing. And they did that tonight.”

Sanger (3-2) took it the Chaparrals (1-4) in the third quarter, holding them to 47 yards in the period and riding a physical running game for two scores that would prove too much for Aubrey’s 16-point fourth quarter.

Junior quarterback Brandon Mann also boosted the Indians to victory, finishing 12-of-19 passing for 139 yards and a score, to go along with 10 carries for 25 yards and another touchdown.

Despite outgaining the Indians with 162 yards to 100 yards in the first half, Aubrey entered the red zone just once before halftime — settling for a 24-yard field goal by Evan Moore for a 3-0 lead in the first five minutes of the second quarter.

Both offenses traded three-and-outs for the majority of the second quarter before Sanger running back Tre’von Jackson pounded in a run from 14 yards out to give the Indians a 7-3 lead with 29 seconds remaining in the half.

Aubrey took three plays to move across the 50-yard line, and senior kicker Evan Moore drilled a school-record 53-yard field goal on the last play of the first half to pull the Chaparrals within 7-6.

Moore was a bright spot for Aubrey, setting school kicking records in longest field goal (53), most field goals in a game (3) and most field goals in a season (5).

“I’ve been out here working hard, practicing every day and it feels good to actually get to display what I’ve been working on,” Moore said.

With the offense struggling to find the end zone this season, Aubrey head coach Mike Segleski said Moore is key to getting points on the board.

“He’s a weapon, and he’s keeping us in ball games,” Segleski said. “If we get to the 30-yard line, we feel like we can get three points out of it.”

Sanger started running away in second half when Jackson scored from 12 yards out in the first three minutes and followed with a 2-yard score for a 20-6 Indians lead through three quarters.

Jackson was held to just 39 yards in the first half, but carved Aubrey’s 3-3 stack defense for 73 second-half yards. He said the team focused on running up the gut.

“Coach wanted to be the aggressive team because they’re usually aggressive to us, so we just smashed it down with the run,” said Jackson, who finished with 29 carries for 112 yards and three scores.

Aubrey started shoving back in the final quarter. Chaps quarterback Mason Robinson punched in a 1-yard sneak and Moore nailed a 43-yard field goal before Mann kept an option for a 6-yard score and a 27-16 Indians lead.

Robinson connected with wideout Cole Cannon on a play-action pass for a 66-yard touchdown toss with less than three minutes left, but Sanger ran the clock out for the win.

Jackson said Sanger’s plan for keeping momentum is simple.

“We just got to stay focused and humble,” Jackson said. “We keep practicing like we do.”

Sanger is set for its homecoming game at 7:30 p.m. Friday against Frisco Lone Star. Aubrey will play again at 7:30 p.m. Friday against visiting Fort Worth Trinity Valley.

DentonRC.com is now using Facebook Comments. To post a comment, log into Facebook and then add your comment below. Your comment is subject to Facebook's Privacy Policy and Terms of Service on data use. If you don't want your comment to appear on Facebook, uncheck the 'Post to Facebook' box. To find out more, read the FAQ .